International Trade Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce

Daniel E. Harris

Deputy Assistant Secretary
International Operations

The Director General of the U.S. Commercial Service, Mr. Israel Hernandez, appointed Daniel Harris to serve as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Operations on December 1, 2005. In this capacity, Mr. Harris supervises the Commerce Department’s Foreign Service operations in 80 countries around the world, with responsibility for budgets, personnel and programs.

Prior to this appointment, Mr. Harris served four years as U.S. Consul General in Düsseldorf, Germany (1999-2003). Mr. Harris returned to Washington as Senior Advisor for Trade Development at the National Association of Manufacturers (2003-04) where he developed innovative programs to assist Small and Medium Manufacturers to compete in the global marketplace. In July 2004, he became Regional Director for Africa, Near East and South Asia, overseeing Commercial Service posts in 15 countries. As Regional Director, Mr. Harris also served on the management team for International Operations.

A member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Counselor, Mr. Harris was commissioned into the Foreign Service in 1984. He was first posted as Commercial Attaché to the American Embassy in Bern, Switzerland. From 1987-1990 he served in the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, DC., then as Commercial Attaché in Buenos Aires, Argentina from 1990 to 1992. Two tours of duty as Senior Commercial Officer followed from 1992 to 1995 in Prague, Czech Republic, and from 1995 to 1999 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

In the twelve years prior to joining the Department of Commerce, Mr. Harris held various positions in business with South Western Bell Telephone, Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) and Pall Corporation.

Mr. Harris was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 1948. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in history from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, during which time he spent a year abroad at the University of Natal in Durban, South Africa. After completion of the BA, Mr. Harris pursued additional studies in Europe, including at the Université de Caen, France (1971-1972) and the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium (1973-1974) where he earned a Certificate in Advanced European Studies. Via the Carl-Duisberg-Gesellschaft he studied German in Cologne and worked for 18 months in Frankfurt, Germany (1974-1976).

He speaks German, French and Spanish in addition to English.

Harris is married and has two sons, age 22 and 24. His wife, Zara Harris, holds a Master of Science degree in occupational therapy. She works with children and adults who have learning disabilities and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The family enjoys traveling, skiing and scuba diving. Zara and Dan are also active in their church.